I'm not crazy about my working title either so suggestions for a title are also welcome.

"solitude"...big tree seems a little to round.to perfect...but nice pic none the less

This is a charming work. Since I focus on the human in the picture, I would suggest his head be more rounded. Also, I can barely see the boat, so a different color for it, or possibly some bushes behind it might make it more visible. Hope these suggestions help. :)

DawnStar: The man's head IS round. He is wearing a cap. :^) You're right about the boat, it is hard to distinguish. Wood exposed to the elements tends to turn grey, but the final render will be larger, higher res. If that doesn't help, I'll mess with the contrast, etc. in post to bring out the boat. twilightrose: "Solitude" is a better title, thanks. The tree is round by design (it took me a long time in the tree lab to get it like that, LOL). I was trying to get a tree that wasn't lopsided. Your suggestions were very much appreciated. BTW, I was trying to create a backstory for this pic by having a little grave marker on the island (just to the right and below the house), the idea being that he was alone on the island with just his cat, but once upon a time he was happy and not so alone and lonely. I'm afraid I need to make the marker a bit more obvious as well.

awesome work so far, love the tree and the shrubs scattered around. great textures also.

Really great work tjohn I like it very much. The only things I have a problem with have been mentioned, ie. the boat and the little cross, but apart from that it's brill. 8) Catlin

Island looks great. Some really nice texturing. My only thing about the tree would be to maybe make the leaves a bit smaller (and have more of them to counter the thinning effect that will have, so you maintain the roundness). Are the bumps in the far background waves or a mainland (sorry - really crappy old monitor here - not great on colour distinction). If they're waves, they may be a bit too big compared to the height of the island (especially when allowing for perspective). Even so, looking real good so far.

I could live there.....but the house would need to be bigger.....and no ghostly cats around either...;-) The sea looks great, I love the foam on the right-hand side....THe guy looks like he's having a quiet cigarrette before going back indoors and brycing......Nice one!

Note - foreground sea looks awesome.

The leaves smaller & a dock or tie-off for the boat, maybe a coat of worn paint. The marker looks fine to me, mostly because it's subtlety is part of the image and not the focus. Lots of story in this image & room for interpretation. Beautiful job!!

Lol @ TheBryster.... having a cigarette before going back indoors and Brycing. 8) This is a very cool image Tjohn. I agree with ICM that the marker looks good as is cause it isn't the focus. I also agree with flak that the swells in the distance look like they could be a bit large in comparison to the size of the island. The texturing is excellent. Nice job man. Wade

Super work John. It reminds me of isolation.

I like it a lot tjohn. And I kinda figured those huge distant waves as being symbolic themselves. After all, you did say this is fantasy pic.

Suggestion 1 - offset the image slightly to the left of centre. Suggestion 2 - add some separate stones in the water around the island, not big but just breaking the surface. I would suggest trailing them off to the right of the island to balance the islands shift to the left a bit. Very cool so far (do mean it!)

Danamo: That was my intention with the swell of the ocean. Looked at practically, everything on this island would have washed away after the first waves hit it, let alone a storm. Yet the island stands, the man survives. Everyone: I'll definitely tweak the big tree, the size of the leaves IS distracting and does need to be reduced. I also like several other suggestions and will incorporate them into the final pic. If you'll all allow me to bore you with a little personal revelation: I created this image differently from my usual process. Usually I come up with an idea first, then go about creating it. This image was more stream of consciousness in its creation. I started working on it like this: "I'll make a terrain and shape and texture it." Then I added more terrains in a separate session. Then later the big tree. Then later the house. And so on, a piece at a time, almost every day a new piece to the puzzle. Finally it all began to tell a story. All in all, a fun way to create an image! Now after sleeping on it and reading all these wonderful comments and suggestions, it occurred to me that this image is truly a product of my subconscious. Here's how: The man is me. Although I don't have a cat, I do have a dog, my only pet. I live alone, a lifelong bachelor at 50, so the island definitely represents my personal isolation. The grave marker represents the death of my Aunt Lennie last year. When she died she left me her home, which is the home in the pic (it doesn't resemble the one in the pic, though) where I now live. The ocean is part of the theme of isolation, but also represents the outside world, full of beauty but also a source of danger, the UNKNOWN. I know, too much information, but I thought someone might find it interesting how much of myself I put in this image without being conscious of it. Just something to think about when you're looking at your own work. Think, "What of myself goes into my art without even being conscious of it at the time?" John

I dont' think the tree is too large at all. I live under a tree that is easily 80 feet high. Even standing on top of my hosue, I would never be able to touch the lowerst branch! Something I've encountered as well, though, they SEEM too big in Bryce, because we want to see the whole thing... But you can never see a WHOLE tree! Half of it is always facing away from you!

That is the coolest picture I have seen in a while...spectacular. Sharen

The tale of yourself tjohn increases the beauty of the scene and makes a lot of sense. 8) Catlin

It's not too much info. It serves to give us insight and understanding and thus increasing the significance of the work to us, the viewers. It ceases to be a statement to be puzzled over and becomes a message.

What a wonderful image! Thanks for telling how it came about. I start quite a few of my pics that way. Now i have to go back and look at some to see how much of me is in them!...LOL

Wow! that looks really supergood :) wonderfull and still wip too, so it'll get even better :)

verry nice picture as title i sugest "the old mariner"

On looking at the image again, it looks like the island is a lonesome ship sailing the oceans, and I think that because the surf and spray is only on the right side of the island. It's also because of ysvry saying "the old mariner". 8) Catlin BTW tjohn, as regards your other thread about your work, I really do think you have been coming into your own recently. Your work is excellent. 8)